City of San Jose

Supervising, Environmental Services Specialist (Integrated Waste Management) - ESD

City of San Jose$129K — $158K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in environmental studies or related field.
  • 4+ years in developing or implementing environmental programs.
  • 2+ years of leadership experience in a related field.
  • Strong data management and analytical skills.
  • Experience in contract management and budget administration.

Responsibilities

  • Plan, organize, and supervise staff activities in the division.
  • Manage contract performance and monitor contractors.
  • Analyze data for reports and program improvements.
  • Support public education initiatives on waste management.
  • Oversee project management for strategic planning efforts.
  • Collaborate with regional stakeholders for effective program execution.
  • Develop and manage grant proposals and applications.

Benefits

  • Full-time remote work options available.
  • Engagement with community stakeholders.
  • Opportunity for professional development and continuing education.
  • Possibility for additional positions from recruitment process.
Full Job Description
Salary: $129,926.16 - $158,383.68 Annually
Location : San Jose
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:
DEPART: Environmental Services
Opening Date: 09/15/2026
Closing Date: 10/6/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Position Duties
The Environmental Services Department is currently seeking to fill one (1) full-time Supervising Environmental Services Specialist vacancy in the Integrated Waste Management Division. To learn more about the great work we do in this Division, please visit sjenvironment.org.

About the Integrated Waste Management Division
The Integrated Waste Management Division oversees San José's solid waste programs serving approximately 331,000 Residential households, over 8,000 Commercial customers and about 140 municipal facilities. Supervising Environmental Services Specialist positions within various teams (Residential, Commercial, Regulations, Solid Waste Program Performance) have the following responsibilities:
  • Contract management and contractor performance monitoring
  • Data management and analysis for reports, presentations, and programmatic improvements
  • Regulatory compliance assistance and implementation of City's solid waste goals
  • Public education and outreach
  • Budget management
  • Project management, including studies and pilot projects
  • Acquisition and management of grants
  • Provide excellent customer service
  • Work with regional groups and stakeholders
  • Staff supervision

Salary range(s) for this classification is:
$129,926.16 - $158,383.68
This salary range(s) includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates' qualifications and experience.
Position Responsibilities
Supervising Environmental Services Specialists plan, organize, and supervise the activities of assigned staff and program area within a Division of the Environmental Services Department. This classification is designated as management and supervises other professional staff, as well as manages programmatic teams by providing direction and leadership. Incumbents in this classification are responsible for the successful development, implementation, and/or ongoing supervision and overview of assigned program(s). This classification not only supervises and oversees assigned professional staff, but also performs the most complex and specialized functions in support of assigned program(s).This position requires an organized and motivated self-starter with strong collaboration, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, and a demonstrated track record of successfully managing multiple projects.

This position, on the Solid Waste Program Performance team, will be responsible for initiating, leading and managing large, long-term strategic planning and data-oriented solutions in the areas of future residential and commercial contracts, tackling complex behavior change initiatives to reduce recycling contamination, and other special projects. This position supervises a team of seven, including three direct reports, providing strategic support across all of Integrated Waste Management's programs. Areas of focus include the following:
  • Collaboration with the Residential Garbage and Recycling Program to combat residential recycling contamination through new approaches, including behavior change. One current approach that this position oversees is the Contamination And Recycling Tagging (CART) Program, in which a field team provides single-family residents feedback and education to lower recycling contamination. A new initiative for the CART Program field supervisor is providing multi-family properties with information on recycling and junk pickup programs to remove barriers, help residents recycle right, and increase program participation. The position will explore other efforts that should result in reduced recycling contamination, improving the quality of recycling commodities, increasing resident awareness, and reducing the cost of processing recycling.
  • Support the Zero Waste Innovations Grant Program through program development, grant management guidance, summarizing performance metrics, and serving as a grant manager.
  • Assist the Division with grant applications and management.
  • Strategize and plan upcoming residential and commercial contracts to create a smooth Request for Proposal process, taking into account new and emerging solid waste technologies and manner of provided services to customers.
  • Assist with implementing strategies from the Zero Waste Element to the San José Climate Smart Plan to reduce solid-waste related greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Core functions include budget planning, project management and streamlining, contract management, preparing staff documents, data analytics, utilizing best management practices, stakeholder engagement, and leading and managing professional technical staff.

Minimum Qualifications
Education

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience

Four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in developing, promoting, and/or implementing environmental programs (e.g.: programs in air quality, integrated waste management, biology, agriculture, energy, forestry or parks, habitat restoration, wastewater, water resources, stormwater, archaeology, geology, resource conservation, industrial or environmental health and safety, or any program emphasizing environmental sustainability or environmental regulatory compliance), including two (2) years of experience leading people or projects.

Relevant experience in environmental services programs typically includes; preparing outreach/educational materials, conducting survey work, tracking and monitoring deliverables, coordinating special events, promoting programs, implementing new programs, policy development, planning and permitting, grants or contracts administration, analyzing data and creating reports, and/or tracking budgets.

Acceptable Substitution

A master's degree from an accredited college or university in environmental studies or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience developing, promoting, and/or implementing environmental programs.

Additional years of experience in developing, promoting, and/or implementing environmental programs may be substituted for the bachelor's degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Other Requirements

  • This position is required to work full-time 40 hours a week. The requires 32 hours (four days) onsite, with up to eight hours remote.
  • May serve as the secondary backup CART Program field supervisor, requiring onsite work at 6:00 a.m. and accompanying the field team through 10:00 a.m.


Form 700 requirement
This position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income, and business positions. You must complete and file an "Assuming Office Form 700" with the City Clerk's Office within the first 30 days of employment with the office.

Other Qualifications
Job Competencies
The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

  • Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.
  • Computer Skills - Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, and MS Excel.


  • Decision making - Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions
  • Fiscal Management - Understands the relationship of the budget and resources to the strategic plan; complies with administrative controls over funds, contracts, and procurements.
  • Initiative - Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.
  • Leadership - Leads by example; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible and approachable and interacts with others on a regular basis; promotes a cooperative work environment, allowing others to learn from mistakes; provides motivational supports and direction.
  • Problem Solving - Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.
  • Project Management - Ensures support for projects and implements agency goals and strategic objectives.
  • Supervision - Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.
  • Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.
  • Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.


Selection Process:

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions.Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Jennifer Macias at [email protected].
Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email and we will research the status of your application.

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About City of San Jose

The City of San Jose is the third-largest city in California and the largest city in Silicon Valley. It is the county seat of Santa Clara County and is located in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area. The city is known for its high-tech industry and is home to many of the world's largest technology companies. The City of San Jose provides a wide range of services to its residents, including public safety, transportation, and parks and recreation. The city has a strong commitment to sustainability and has implemented many programs to reduce its carbon footprint and promote renewable energy.
Learn more about City of San Jose
Size
7,000 employees
Industry
Revenue
$4 billion

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